When and How to Bow in Korea

Just like many Asian countries, bowing is a big part of greetings in Korea. It’s a way to show respect, say hi, thank you, and bye. So if you’re not sure how or when you should bow, watch this video to find out about bowing in Korea!

– When meeting someone in an informal setting in Korea, just a slight tilt of the head is usually ok. This simple bow is also used when saying hello, bye and thank you.

– For more important meetings (or people), the lower you bow, the more respect it shows (it also shows more respect if you hold the bow for a longer period). Hold your hands to the side or in front of you.

– The most respectful bow is called keunjeol (큰절 – “big bow”). This is only used for the most formal occasions and to show the most respect. Koreans typically give their older family members a big bow (keunjeol) on Lunar New Years (설날 – seollal) and the Harvest Festival (추석 – Chuseok). It’s also used for jesa (제사), which is a traditional Korean ceremony that respects ancestors. Also, men will do this to their fiance’s parents when they ask for their hand in marriage. Sometimes instead of a big bow (keunjeol), Korean girls will give 작은절 (jakeunjeol), aka small bow.

Keith Kim is a Korean-American who has been living in Korea for almost a decade. Being in a unique position as both a Korean and a non-Korean, he's put all his experience and knowledge for surviving in Korea in Survival Korean . Read it to learn how you can survive in Korea.
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Sadly at work, customers tend to say, “Hey Brah! (short for bother)”. Greeting friends is mostly, “Hey!” and maybe a handshake. Really good friends not seen in awhile, it’s followed with a hug. Family it’s mostly hugs.

I dont like bow in front of people and human who are equal with me .respect can express with talking formal and polite and other ways
I only bow for God.
I have a question if a person from another country come korea she or he must bow to respect them? If dosent what happend?

it’s etiquette in Korea. Your reasoning is like saying, I don’t speak formally to people “who are equal with me…” I only speak formal to God. Ummm no. When I meet a person, even if they look younger than me, I speak to them with respect using, Miss, Mrs., Mr., Dr., or Sir. I see all humans as equal and they are neither above or below me. This is how I was raised. In my life I have only kneel to God, but I’ve never bowed. If I may ask, where do you come from, that you bow to God?